Pinch type comb



Feb. 20, 1945. F, A STUHLMAN ET AL 2,369,990

PINCH TYPE COMB Filed March 5l, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 :j 5K6 y ky 5a p7076 Feb. 20, 1945. F. A. STLJHLMAN Em 2,369,990

PINCH TYPE COMB Filed March 5l, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 20,1945 PICH TYPE CMBY Frank A. Stuhlman, ForestPark, and Louis B.

Berg, Chicago, Ill., assignors to' Borg-WarnerV Corporation,Chicago,Ill., a corporation of Il linois.

ApplicationrMai-ch 31, 1943, Serial-No'. 481,182

Claims. (CI. M01-f3) This invention relates to weaving machines and thelike. More particularly, the invention is directed primarily toimprovements in a weaving machine of the type disclosed in United StatesLetters Patent No, 2,223,317, issued to W. B. Ewing, November 26,1940,for the weaving of metal cloth and the like. Further, it is an object ofthis invention to disclose animproved form of front and back combassembly, Iand improved means for holding the elements of 'the metalcloth which is being woven.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved means forguiding and positioning the woof or weft element, and for holding saidweft element during the operation of tying the warp element.

It is a. further object of this invention to provide an improved meansof holding the metal cloth during the stripping action when the forwardcomb moves out of engagement with the metal cloth, whereby the metalcloth materials will not be pulled out of place by the friction of theforward comb in its movements downward.

In constructions heretofore, such, for example, as that shown in theabove-mentioned patent, there have been provided a plurality of combelements called a forward comb and a back co-mb,

'the later of which has had what might be called a weft slot or fixeddepth transverse groove or channel for guiding each ribbon-like weftmember, and thev forward comb has moved up over this transverse grooveto form the front` face for, and thus complete, the guideway. In thisarrangement lthe transverse groove has had to be very carefully formed,and in the event the weft element was not entirely uniform, it mightbind in the groove and fail to move into the proper' operating position.

In the present arrangementit is an object to provide. a forward. 'combor front ,comb which is formed to provide both the front face and thebottom of a weft guidewav or slotandl a back comb which is formed toprovide the back face and top of the slot so that by relative adjustmentof the combmembers, various thicknesses and sizesof weft' members may beused for different grades ofy metal cloth; and binding andA snagging ofthe weitV members are. eliminated.

It is a further object to provide a means for positioning the front combwith respect to' the back comb while the weft element is' moved into theproper position, and then further positioning the iront comb elementso'as' to pinch or clamp the-weft' element, securely holding itfagainstmovement (but not distorting it) ,f while the warp wires are -beingtied.v into position.

In connection with'the above-it isan object to provide Iarradjustable'frontr comb' opening pin or screwvmember, which.l functionsto raise or hold the front combmember from the back comb member byengaging abuier" member such asa carballoy blocken thev frame ofthemachine and effect a slight spacing opening'off the ribbon receivingslot.y facilitates the-introduction of a ribbon-like weft element'.yItfis 'an' obje/ct to eliminate this slight opening after the intro'ducvtion.- of the weft into the slot, andrmo've the combs into' snug'.lengagement with the-ribbon priorl to making .the4 tie', Vwhichcomprises` twisting or. knotting. the warpv elements back of eachwefftelement.

It is an object to' providel an additional element. which .functions inconnection. with the! weavingoperations involving thev combs, such;

means being what may' be termed` a, stripper bar assembly',whichYprevents thewoven vfabric or metallic cloth frombeingpulled forwardly ordownwardly-by thevfricti'on; of-` thefront comb infruhbingagainst-theribbonlike` memberV as the-'front combl is lowered.

Other andfmore'particular: objects, advantages land uses ot Amyvinvention will become-"apparent fromv ay reading of. the followingspecification taken together with the'y appended drawings wherein: I

Fig'. 1 is a fragmentary elevationaL cross-sectional view of aportionzof a weaving machine head assembly-.

Fig. 2"is a fragmentary sectional' View.. taken on theI lneZ-Z of1,"lookin'g in the direction of the arrows;l

Fig. 3fis1a fragmentary sectional'` view showing the positions'oithecombswith respect tothe y quill and frame, upon completion of-thetyingoperation;

Fig., 4 is ay `viewsimilar .to Fig... 3, but, showing the positionsoffthe combsi inT thelnext step;4 fol'n lowing that o1Av Fig.y 3;v

Fig. 5fis aviewsim-ilar to 'thatfoi Figa 3,-but showing the next stepafter that ofFi'g.: 4

Fig. Bisi a viewsimilar tri that vof Figli 3'; but

,showing the' *position oi theVA combs.. foi-'the next step after thatof Fig.: 5l, aridalso'r showing the opening` pin. and `buffer member;and

Fig'. rI"is1a-view similar' tothe-trof Fig.- 3; but showing the nal'positiorr of th'e como. elements prior to the tyingv operation. '1 Thenext position of the-combelem'ents isthatof Fig'. y

Referring more in:` detail to the.. construction shown in the variousiigures andreferring first primarily to Figs. 1 and 2, there is provideda weaving machine head assembly 28, having a frame 22 and a combassembly 24. Supported by the frame 22, there are provided the quills 26(only one quill being here indicated). Each quill 26 is carried by apinion 28 through which it extends and to which it is attached or held,and the pinion 28 is journalled for rotation in the frame 22.

The warp wires 30 are carried by the quill 26, and the pinion 28 withits attached quill 26 is driven by the rack 32. This rack 32 is mountedfor reciprocating or oscillating motion, and the teeth of the rackengage the leaves of the pinion. The rack 32 is oscillated by the rackarm 34, which is mounted on the frame 32 and driven by any convenientmeans, such as a drum cam (not shown). The rack arm 34 has a cam roller36 which engages a pair of blocks or the like 38 attached to, or forminga part of, the rack 32.

The frame 22 has a cover plate 48 which may be of glass so that movementof the pinion 28 is under observation, the cover plate being attached tothe frame by any convenient means, such as machine screws 42.

Referring next to the comb assembly designated in its entirety as 24,there is provided a comb mounting support 44, which is here shown asbeing somewhat L-shaped. It extends substantially across the width ofthe machine. The comb mount 44 is attached to and carried by a 4movablecarrier or comb support arm 46, which is journalled for limited arcuatemovement on the frame 22. The journal means is not shown.

The comb mount 44 has seated thereon, with provision for slidingengagement therewith, a sliding block or comb advance member 48, whichis retained in position principally by means of a retainer 58. Passingthrough the comb mount 44 in a hole or opening 45 provided for thatpurpose, is the movable comb advancing arm 52, which arm 52 preferablyhas at its outer end, a cam roller engaging the sliding block 48. Thismovable comb advancing arm is adapted to reciprocate said sliding block48, with respect to said comb mount 44. The movable comb advancing arm52 is journalled for rotation (by a means which is not shown and ispreferably driven by a plate cam).

The comb mount 44 carries the back comb 54, which is attached to saidcomb mount and may be said to be integral therewith. This comb mount 54has the outwardly extending ilange portion 56 on its upper end, whichforms the top of the weft guideway or slot 58. A portion of the frontface of the back comb 54 forms the back of the slot 58, and the backcomb has means,

such as vertical slots, for passing the warp wires 30 from the quill 26therethrough. The back comb 54 is recessed or concaved somewhat in itsback face as shown at 60 to receive the end of the quill 26 and toprovide space for the tying operation. This back comb 54 also has thehole 62 passing therethrough, for the purposes hereinafter described.

Attached to the sliding block 48 is the comb guide bar 64, which in theembodiment herein` disclosed, has a plurality of holes therein (see Fig.2 in particular), one series of such holes carrying the coil springs 66.Another series of such holes carries the guide pins 68, each of whichguide pins is free to move in a direction through said comb guide bar64, and each of which guide pins 68 is threaded into, and forms a guidefor, the front comb 10. These guide pins keep the front comb 'l0 alignedso that it can only move in a direction toward and from the comb guidebar (except, of course, said front comb l0 may move with the movementwith the sliding block 48) A third series of holes carries what may betermed the adjustable opening screws or pins l2, which pins 12 are freeto move with respect to the guide bar 64. The adjustable opening pins l2are threaded through the front comb 10 and thus they are adjustably heldin said front comb 18. Each pin l2 also passes through a hole 62 in theback comb, and said pins 12 are adjustable with respect to the frontcomb, and strike a carballoy block or the like 14. This carballoy blockor the like forms a buffer or strike plate in the frame 22, and when thepin l2 is resting on said carballoy block, the front comb is held awayfrom the back comb by a small space, for the purpose hereinafterdisclosed. This space is regulable by adjustment of the pin l2.

The front comb 10 is provided with a forwardly or upwardly extendingundercut nose portion 16, which is adapted to form the front face andbottom of the weft slot 58. This front comb l0 is urged at all timestoward the back comb 54 under pressure oi the spring 66. This assuresthe fact that when the carballoy block and ad justable pin l2 are out ofengagement with each other, the front; comb 18 will be in engagementwith the back comb 54. Under the pressure caused by the adjustable pin12, the front comb is kept outlof engagement with the back comb whilethe comb mounting support 44 is in close engagement with the frame 22.

The spring stop 18 is attached to the sliding block 48, by means oi thescrew or bolt 80. The comb guide bar 64 is attached to the sliding block48 by means of the machine bolt 82.

' The front comb 10 preferably is provided with a recess portion orspring seat, which receives and holds the spring 66. The spring 66 thuspasses through the comb guide bar 64 and seats within the front comb 18,and then is tensioned and held by means of the spring stop 18. It isthus obvious that the front comb is movable with the comb support 44 inthe same manner as the back comb 54, except that the front comb may bemoved away from or toward the back comb within the limit provided by theadjustment above described, and the front comb moves with the slideblock 48.

The comb arm 52 preferably is provided with the cam roller 84, which isjour-nailed within the sliding block 48. The retainer 58 has a recess oropening therein into which the end of the cam 84 may extend so that ithas room for arcuate movement. The retainer 58 is securely held on thecomb support 44 by means such as a machine bolt 86 and retains thesliding block in the desired position on the comb mounting.

The stripper bar 88 is provided in connection with the comb support 44,and is held in position by the stripper bar support 89 which is carriedby the comb support 44. The stripper bar 88 extends over the upper endof the comb assembly 24, and forms a supporting surface or rest for thewoven metal fabric as it comes from the comb. This woven metal fabric isthus supported by the quill 26, that is, by the warp wires passingthrough said quill, on the one side, and by the stripper bar 88 on theother side. Thus, when the front comb is pulled downward from theposition shown in, Fig. 3 to that shown in the device being of thatginFig. 3 Labove-mene Fig. 4, releasing the woven fabric, the'supportoffered'by the quill, and the possible friction on the sides of thevertical slots of the back comb, together with support of the stripperbar, prevents the Woven metal fabric being pulled out of position. Thisis a very important feature, especially in connection with the weavingof metal fabric in which the weft is formed of a ribbonlike strip ofelongated cross-section, and in which the fabric is practicallyuselessfor the purpose intended unless it has the proper opticalcharacteristics-which optical characteristics are destroyed bydistortion. Unintentional displacement of the fabric in weaving will, inall likelihood, distort the same.

Referring to Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6 and "I, always keeping in mind Fig. l, andreferring first to Fig.

3, the positions ofthe parts shown in that ligure indicate that thetying operation of twisting the warp wires 3d about the Woof of weft 90has just been completed.

The position of the parts in Fig. 4 is the Inext position after that ofFig. 3, and the front comb l has moved downwardly under the influence ofthe comb advancing arm 52, releasing the metal cloth. It will beobserved that in Figs. 3 and 4, the back comb is spaced a considerabledistance from the frame 22, and the front comb lies aginst the back comb54. It will also be noted that the space between the back surface of thefront comb and the quill is sufficient to perform the tying operation.

Referring next to Fig. 5, the back comb is now moved back against thequill 26 and toward the frame 22. The front comb still is drawn downaway from the channel portion of the back comb,

but is lying against the back comb 54 for the reason that there is aslight angle between the comb assembly 261 and the frame 22, and the'pin l2 has not touched the frame 22 or block 14, as it will when thefront comb is moved forward or upwardlyby the arm 52.

As noted in Fig. 6, the comb assembly has completed its movement towardthe frame 22, the back comb seated against thev end of the quill, orclose to it, and the front comb being spaced slightly outwardly from theback comb. This is accomplished by the adjustable opening pin l2contacting the carballoy block 14, as the comb assembly moves up withthe slide block 48. Under the influence of the adjustable opening pin72, the front comb is forced outwardly away from the back comb, leavingthe small additional space which results in a larger channel or ribbonslot 58. This space is, as above stated,

adjustable within limits by changing the adjustable pin l2. While thedevicel is in this position, the woof or weft is inserted in the slot58. As soon as this weft has filled the slot 58, the comb assembly underthe influence of the movable support arm 46 moves outwardly to theposition shown in Fig. 7.

In this position, the opening pin 'l2 does not contact the carballoyblock, and the front comb, under the tension of the spring 6B, seatsiirmly on the back comb or weft, or both, (whichever is tioned.

Attention is called to the fact that the .front comb 1D seatsagainst-the 'backv comb 62 under the influence of the spring 66. Thismeans that the weft element will be engaged onlyv under spring pressure.This is suicient to holdthe weft carefully and securely positionedduring; the tying operation. i

With the construction here shown the parts forming the channel member 58are slightly variableso that weft elements of different thickness may bereadily accommodated therein. Also the fact that a weft .may have a awgnit, which, with thel construction herein disclosed, will not beprevented from seating in the proper position.

While we have described our invention in connection with certainspecific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is bywayVof illustration rather than limitation and thatfthe invention is to bedened by the appended 4claims which should be given a scope as broad as:coinmensurate with the prior art, l

We claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a comb assembly, a plurality ofcombs in said comb assembly, one of said combs for-ming top and backportions of a weft guideway, and another of said combs forming bottomand front portions of said guideway, means positioning said combsandincreasing the size of said guideway during a weft filling operation,and means decreasing the size of said guideway after the weft fillingoperation whereby any weft entering said guideway has ample clearance todo so and is clamped into position after having entered Saidv guideway.

2. In al weaving machine for metal fabricand the like, a comb assemblycomprising a movable comb support, a quill assembly operable forperforming a 'weaving operation, means adapted to move said quillrsupport in timed relation to the operation of said quill assembly, aback comb secured to said quill support, said back comb `having a fixedrelation to said quill support, a front comb overlying said back comb,means operable to move said front comb with respect to said back comb ina direction toward the forward and rear edges of said back comb,separate means oper. able to space said front comb from saidv back comb,means in connection with said combs forming a channel of variable size,and means dening a stripper Ibar carried by said comb support.

3. In a device of the class described, a plurality of quills carryingwarp means, means deining a portion of a weaving machine supporting andoperating said quills, means deiining a comb support supporting aplurality of combs in adjustable relation to said quills, saidcombsdefining guideway forming means forming a guideway of variablethickness in cross section, and means forming and varying said guidewayand the thickness thereof in'timed relation to the operation of saidquill means.

4. In a device of the class described, a'plurality of quills carryingwarp means, means defining a portion of a Weaving machinesupporting andoperating said quills, means dening' a comb support supporting aplurality of combs in adjustable relation to said quills, said combsdening guideway forming means forming a guideway of variable thicknessin cross section, means forming and varyingsaid guideway Vand `thethickness fthereof in timed lrelation to the operationv ofv saidlquilllmea-ns,A and-means comprising a. stripper bar supporting thewoven fabric y during the movement of said guideway forming means.

5. A comb assembly for weaving machines and the like comprising combsupporting means, variable means operable to position said combsupporting means, a back comb element on said comb supporting means,means carried bysaid comb supporting means dening a sliding block, afront comb element normally resting against said back comb element andmoved by said sliding block, means positioning said sliding blockwhereby said front comb is positioned with respect to said back comb,means carried by said front comb operable to position said front comb inspaced relation to said back comb, and means urging said iront combagainst said back comb.

6. A comb assembly for weaving machines and the like comprising combsupporting means, means operable to position said comb supporting means,a back comb element on said comb supporting means, means carried by saidcomb supporting means defining a sliding block, a front comb elementnormally resting against said lback comb element and moved by saidsliding block, means positioning said sliding block whereby said frontcomb is positioned with respect to said back comb, means carried by saidfront comb operable to position said front comb in spaced relation tosaid back comb, means urging said front comb against said back comb,said back comb having a ange portion whereby the back comb forms the topand rear face of a weft receiving slot, and said front comb having anunder-cut nose portion forming the front face and bottom of said weftreceiving slot.

7. In a weaving machine having a quill means and means operating saidquill means, a comb assembly for weaving machines and the likecomprising comb supporting means, means operable to position said combsupporting means, a back comb element on said comb supporting means,means carried by said comb supporting means defining a sliding block, afront comb element normally resting against said back comb element andmoved by said sliding block, means positioning said sliding `blockwhereby said front comb is positioned with respect to said back comb,and means carried by said vfront comb operable to position said frontcomb in spaced rey lation to said back comb, and means urging said frontcomb against said back comb.

8. A weaving head assembly for a weaving Inachine comprising a quillmeans carrying warp wires, means operating said quill means inperforming weaving operations, a weaving machine frame, a comb supportjournaled for arcuate movement with respect to said weaving machineframe, a back comb carried by said comb support and defining the backface and top of a weft guide, a front comb carried by said comb support,and adapted to engage the front face of the back comb with the back faceof the front comb, means in connection with the front comb forming thefront face and -bottom of said weft slot, and means varying the depthfrom front to back of -said weft slot in timed relation to the weavingoperations.

9. A weaving head assembly for a weaving machine comprising a quillmeans carrying warp wires, means operating said quill means inperforming weaving operations, a weaving machine frame, a comb supportjournalled for arcuate movement with respect to said weaving machineframe, a back comb carried by said comb support and denning the backface and top of a weft guide, a front comb carried by said comb support,and adapted to engage the front face of the back comb with the back faceof the front comb, means in connection with the front comb forming thefront face and bottom of said weft slot, and adjustable Ameans varyingthe depth of said weft slot during weaving operations.

l0. A weaving machine having a frame means and quill means carriedthereby, warp wires carried by said quill means, a comb support, frontand back combs carried by said comb support, said front comb beingadjustable with respect to said back comb for defining with said backcomb a weft receiving guideway, means moving said front comb away fromsaid guideway position after a weft has been inserted therein, and meanscarried by said comb support defining a stripper bar retaining said warpand weft means against displacement by said movement of the front combaway from said guideway position.

11. In a weaving machine an improved weaving head assembly therefor,said weaving machine having quill and quill operating means, warpelements carried -by said quill, a comb supporting means having a. fixedback comb thereon, said back comb defining a portion of a guideway for aweft element, a movable front comb, said front comb defining at least aportion of the remainder of the guideways for the weft element, a strikeplate carried by said weaving machine, means operable to position saidfront comb with respect to said back comb for defining said guideway,and adjustable means carried by said front comb cooperating with meanssuch as said strike .plate carried by said weaving machine spacing saidfront comb from said back comb during the weft guiding operation, andmeans eliminating vsaid spacing in said guideway after completion of theweft guiding operation.

12. In a weaving machine, quill means defining warp wire carryingelements, means operating said warp wire carrying elements forperforming a weaving operation, means defining a comb means having frontand back combs, said back comb having means forming the back face andtop of a weit guideway and said front comb havingl means forming thebottom and front face of said guideway, Variable means positioning thecombs relative to each other to complete said guideway, means varyingthe depth of said guideway from front to back, means varying therelative positions of said comb means and said quill means during theweaving operations, and means f defining a stripper 'bar at leastpartially supporting said weft and warp elements during the weavingoperations against undesirable displacement.

13. An improved comb arrangement for a weaving machine having a quilland quill operating means, said comb arrangement comprising incombination a comb support, a movable arm for said comb support, a backcomb carried by said comb support and movable therewith, a sliding blockcarried by said comb support, a second movable arm actuating saidsliding block with respect to said comb support, a retaining meansretaining said sliding block in position on said comb support, a guidebar attached to the end of said sliding block 'and movable therewith, afront comb between said guide bar and said back comb and movable withrespect to said back comb, guide pins carried by said front comb andseated in said guide bar, said guide pins being axially movable andretaining said front comb under the4 inuence of said slide block, springmeans urging said front comb against said back comb, means comprising acarballoy strike plate carried by said weaving machine and an adjustableopening pin carried by said front comb operable to space said front andback combs apart, means in connection with. said combs forming a Weitreceiving guideway therebetween, the spacing of said combs apartincreasing the size of said guideway for the weft filling operation andsaid combs returning together decreasing the size of said guideway afterthe weft filling operation whereby-any weft entering said guideway hasample clearance to do so and is clamped into position after havingentered said guideway.

14. In a weaving machine for weaving metal fabric and the like, a quillassembly supported by said weavingr machine and including rotatablequills and driving means therefor, and an improved comb assembly meanscomprising a co-mb support, variable means positioning said comb asupport with respect to said quill means during the weaving operation,means defining a slide block carried by said comb support, a back combcarried by said comb support in xed relation thereto, said back combhaving a hole therethrough and having an outwardly extending ilangeportion on its front face and a quill receiving recess in its back face,a front quill adapted to seat against the front face of said back quillbelow the flange portion and movable toward and away from said flangeportion, said front quill having an undercut nose portion, a guide barcarried by said slide block and overlying said front comb, meanscomprising guide pins moving said front comb with respect to said backcomb as above described under impulse of movement of said guide block,means comprising a spring urging said front comb against the front faceof said back comb, and means comprising an adjustable pin carried bysaid front comb and operable to space said front comb a preselectedamount from said back comb when the nose of said front comb is in closeproximity to the flange of said back comb and the comb support has beenmoved to a position Where the back comb and the quills are in theirclosest proximity.

15. In a weaving machine for weaving metal fabric and the like, a quillassembly supported by said weaving machine and including rotatablequills and driving means therefor, and an improved comb assembly meanscomprising a comb support, variable means positioning said comb supportwith respect to said quill means during the Weaving operation, meansdening a, slide block carried by said comb support, a back comb carriedby said comb support in xed relation thereto, said back comb having ahole therethrough and having an outwardly extending ange portion on itsfront face and a quill receiving recess in its back face, a front quilladapted to seat against the front -face of said back quill below theflange portion and movable toward and away from said flange portion,said iront quill having an undercut nose portion, a guide barcarried bysaid slide block and overlying said front comb, means comprising guidepins moving said front comb with respect to said back comb as abovedescribed under impulse of movement of said guide block, meanscomprising a spring urging said front comb against the front face ofsaid back comb, and a stripper bar over the upper end 0f said combassembly and carried by the means supporting said comb assembly.

- FRANK A. STUHLMAN.

LOUIS B. BERG.

